29 weeks...

Where has the time gone???  I'm already 29 weeks and only have a few more days until I turn the big 3-0!  I'm super excited about my birthday!  For one, I love getting presents, nearly as much as I love giving them to people and BJ has something special planned!  And two, we are heading off for a long weekend down to Melbourne to visit good friends who have just announced they are also expecting their first bubba!  All very exciting. 

As for Frostie, everything is going along great.  His/her movements have started to get stronger and more frequent during the evening.  We start our fortnightly Dr appointments next week and we also have our specialist appointment to check Frostie's heart next Wednesday (Finally!).  After initially being a bit concerned about the scan, I must admit after doing some research and speaking with some people I didn't realise how common it was, so I'm really just looking forward to seeing Frostie again.

We started our antenatal classes last week.  Everyone is a first time parent so we all had a good nervous laugh about some of the birthing positions and some people had some great questions that I hadn't even thought of.  We also had a tour of the birth suits and maternity ward rooms which was also good.  We even had a look at the nursery but all the babies were out with their mammas.  We have another three weeks to go, this week is the birth video and pain relief which really go hand in hand!

How far along: 29 weeks and one day
Total weight change: +5kg
Maternity clothes: The majority of the time, since it's still getting pretty cool I'm able to get away with jumpers and work out pants
Stretch Marks: Not yet
Movement: Stronger movements especially at night time
Sleep: Still loving the sleep and after going to antenatal class I'm realising how lucky I am to be sleeping so well this far into the pregnancy.  A lot of the ladies in the class were having trouble getting and staying asleep so I'm very happy Frostie is allowing me to getting heaps of sleep.  Hopefully he or she will be this kind in a few months!
Best Moment This Past Week: Starting antenatal classes and realising we have less than three months to go!
Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Nothing to report
Belly Button In or Out: Still in, but shallower
Cravings/Aversions: Anything sweet, doesn't help that I already have a massive sweet tooth!
Symptoms: Stronger movements
What I'm Looking Forward To: My birthday and a weekend away!

23 weeks...

It's been a little while since I've blogged but there has been heaps going on.  I've been away for work for a while which I hate, as I really miss home, BJ and Ralph.  We had our latest visit with Dr J with some results coming back from our twenty week scan and I've finally put our admission papers into the hospital and booked our pre-natal classes. 

After our twenty week scan we were really excited and thought everything was going great, until we had our appointment with Dr J to discuss the results.  Even though Frostie is on target with all his/her measurements, the doctor reviewing our ultrasound found an echogenic intra cardiac focus in Frostie's left ventricle.  Which means there is a bit of calcification on Frostie's heart which some studies found has an increased association with Down Syndrome.  It does happen in 3% of normal pregnancies and even though Dr J is not worried about it, he has referred us to an ultrasound specialist to be reviewed.  If this specialist still thinks there may be a problem he will order an amniocentesis for further testing.  We have taken comfort in Dr J's feeling towards the results, and haven't stressed out about the further tests.  Taking heart that all our other tests have come back normal and the whole point of these tests to find out early if something is wrong.  But we haven't discussed the results with anyone just so others aren't worried, which (we think) causes more harm than good.

In other news I finally went in and submitted my admission paperwork for the hospital where we will be meeting Frostie!  It was lovely to meet with some of the midwives and they seemed great.  I even got to peak at a couple of newborns as they were coming past, so cute!  I also got to book my pre-natal classes and pre-admission interview.  November is apparently a busy time at the Woman's and Children's hospital and there are a lot of couples expecting their first baby.  I asked the midwives if there was any reason for this and they said one reason was because of the IVF cycle in February (that's us) and the other one was because we had a cyclone in February, it was surprising how no electricity for a couple of days equals lots of babies nine months later!  I thought this was hilarious! 

When I was leaving and the midwife said she'll be seeing me soon, the reality of us coming here to have our baby, came crashing down on me and I almost cried when I was walking out the doors.  It just seems so surreal sometimes.  I had a similar moment a few weeks ago when we were putting together Frostie's cot and change table.  We were moving them around to see how they would fit in the room and I burst into tears, poor BJ was so worried something was wrong but I was so happy to be putting together the nursery I couldn't contain myself. 

How far along: 23 weeks
Total weight change: +3kg
Maternity clothes: The majority of the time, I’m getting some use out of my regular shorts and jeans thanks to the belly belt
Stretch Marks: Not yet but keeping an eye out
Movement: Yep especially at night time
Sleep: Can’t get enough sleep!   On Saturday I slept into 10am!
Best Moment This Past Week: Spending so much needed “couple time” with Jas after being away and putting my admission papers into the hospital
Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Getting the results back from our 20 week scan
Belly Button In or Out: Still in, but shallower
Cravings/Aversions: Nothing
Symptoms: Movement and belly gradually getting bigger
What I'm Looking Forward To: My sister is planning my baby shower at the beginning of August and I turn the big 3-0 in less than two months!

20 weeks...

Made it half way, twenty weeks!  Frostie has been doing great, I've been feeling some more movements and he/she seems to be very active at night time.  I know there will become a time when I'll want Frostie to calm down and stop moving so much but at this stage I love the punches and kicks I'm feeling.  We have begun to buy furniture and bigger accessories for the nursery, so far a cot, change table and a pram.  I don't have a theme picked out but there will be lots of colour!  I've found some cool wall stickers that are removable, which I love so I've talked BJ into getting them too.  

How far along: 20 weeks, two day
Total weight change: +2.5kg
Maternity clothes: Not all the time but the majority of the time
Stretch Marks: No, I'm keeping up the moisturiser
Movement: Yep especially at night time
Sleep: Loving the sleep, can't get enough
Best Moment This Past Week: Feeling more movement and starting to get together the nursery
Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Nothing to report
Belly Button In or Out: Still in, but looking a bit wider
Cravings/Aversions: Nothing, which is great
Symptoms: Movement and shiny hair
What I'm Looking Forward To: Our 20week scan on Friday and sleeping in over the weekend!

18 weeks...

The past couple of weeks I've finally started to feel pregnant.  It's weird once you get the positive result and the initial excitement fades and day-to-day life takes over, I was finding myself forgetting about Frostie.  Not in a way that I'd eat a whole chunk of soft cheese and suddenly remember, but would just forget.  Now my belly is starting to grow and I've had to start wearing maternity clothes it's starting the feel real. 

Another thing I've noticed while going to the shops in a maternity shirt is, I feel like people are looking at me, like I used to look at pregnant woman.  With envy.  It's all in my head (hopefully) but I want to turn around and tell complete strangers, "I deserve this. I've had to wait a long time to get this far."  Again it's strange being on the 'otherside'.

How far along: 18 weeks, one day
Total weight change: +1kg
Maternity clothes: I still need to get some maternity work clothes but I'm still managing to find into my pants and shirts. I have started wearing maternity clothes on weekends, mostly for comfort.
Stretch Marks: No
Movement: Again I've been feeling pokes and weird sensations.  During the past weekend I felt a couple of 'bubbles'.  I've also been experiencing some bad ligament pain.
Sleep: Sleeping okay but still trying to get use to sleeping on my sides
Best Moment This Past Week: We had our latest check-up with Dr J, and got to see Frostie moving around having a grand time.  I'm so glad to can get a scan with every check-up, it's very reassuring.
Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Sleeping is becoming difficult, hopefully it's just while I readjust
Belly Button In or Out: Still in
Cravings/Aversions: Nothing but I have only been able to have small meals. I'm starving and then after about half of my usual portion, I'm full.  So I've been having four or five small meals a day
Symptoms: A bit of ligament pain
What I'm Looking Forward To: This weekend is a three day weekend and we're going down to spend time with my family, so I'm counting down the days until Friday!!!

Awards...

I was surprised to find that I'd been given not one but two awards by New Year Mum!  I never thought anyone would read my blog let alone but awarded for it!!!

 

As part of this award thing... you need to :

1. Link back to the person who gave you the award (above)

2. Tell 7 things about yourself....

a) I live in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia with husband, BJ and one fur baby

b) I'm currently seventeen weeks pregnant, after TTC for two and a half years, our little Frostie is due 7th November

c) I always knew deep down having a baby wasn't going to be easy for us 

d) The one and only exercise I've been able to stick to is walking, nothing is better for stress and clearing your head then to get out into the fresh air for a walk

e) We've found finding a girl’s name we both like is a lot more difficult than first thought

f) We have started our own business in the past two weeks, one that BJ has been working very hard to get up and running, and we're hoping it will be able to substitute my income in a couple of years so I can stay at home

g) I'm already looking forward to Christmas, as my parents and sister's family will be coming up to share Frostie's first Christmas!

3. Award other bloggers... this is the fun part :)  For the Versatile Blogger Award it's to 15 'recently discovered bloggers' and for the Stylish Blogger Award it's 10 - 15 blogs that 'you feel deserve this award'.  I'm stealing New Years Mum's idea of multiplying my list to try covering all the great blogs that I've found, have found me, have left gorgeous comments, need a hug or have had great news recently... there are so many blogs out there that, so here goes :

H.C. Bishop at That Cincinnati Girl’s Sweet Life 

Clewis at Baby on my Mind

Murgdan at Conceive This!

Rebekah at Journey through the Infertility Jungle

Hillary at Our Hopeful Life

Jay at The 2 week wait

Foxy at Someday

Bobbi at The Johnson’s Journey

Melissa at Wholeheartedly

Clare at The Pitter-Patter

A Field of Dreams at A Field of Dreams

Haidee at Mummy in Waiting

Cortney at Inconceivable

Missy at Scarlet Baby

Just the three of us at Me and You, Just Us & a Miracle Baby Too

Rebecca at The Road Less Traveled

Sarah at Baby Talk

CLR at Life’s a Dance you Learn As You Go

Aly at The Infertility Overachievers

Lisa at Three Cats and a Baby

Christa at Fearlessly Infertile

Mrs. S at Him + Me= Three? Maybe

First & Only IVF? at First & Only IVF?

Emmy at Yes, We’re One of THOSE Couples

Michelle at No, I’m Not Fat, Just Pregnant

4. Contact the recently awarded bloggers to let them know that they've won : hopefully I'll get to all of you over the next few days.  Then you guys all keep spreading the love to other blogs you love... just cover the 4 points above :)

16 weeks...

Sorry for not updating for a while, I've had to go away for work so when I get home there is a whole heap of lovely housework to catch up on :)  I'm still enjoying the second trimester but now in limbo land because the symptoms have slowed down but I can't feel Frostie yet.  So I'm worrying a bit more and can't wait to start feeling movement. 

How far along: 16 weeks, five days
Total weight change: No change but my motor (as BJ so eloquently put its) or belly has begun to grow
Maternity clothes: Finally got my butt into gear and found some maternity clothes that weren't tents and didn't make me throw-up!  And to top it off they were all reasonably priced so I could get a few shirts and even a couple of pairs of jeans.  I still need to get more, especially for work.
Stretch Marks: No but started moisturising a few weeks ago so I'll see how I go
Movement: Not sure but I have been feeling pokes and weird sensations but I'm not sure if they are just my uterus getting bigger or Frostie letting me know he/she is okay
Sleep: Still sleeping great
Best Moment This Past Week: BJ and I went to a dinner and a movie last night which was lovely
Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Not feeling any symptoms and still not feeling movement = worried mumma
Belly Button In or Out: Still in
Cravings/Aversions: Nothing which has been lovely
Symptoms: Again no symptoms this week other than a growing belly/motor :)
What I'm Looking Forward To: My next appointment with Dr J is on Monday 6th June, so looking forward to that and starting to use some of the maternity clothes I've brought

Anniversary...

This past week, BJ and I celebrated our four year wedding anniversary.  We don't usually do much to celebrate maybe go out for dinner or just enjoy each other’s company for the night.  Our first anniversary we both forgot and remembered the following day, how slack!!  This year it fell on a Thursday so we just went out for dinner and got some ice-cream on the way home.  It was lovely just not having to cook tea for the night and get a little bit dressed up.  Next year, it will be our fifth anniversary and will fall on a Saturday so we decided to make a bit more of an effort and do something really nice for the day, hopefully with our bubba.

Otherwise the second trimester has been treating me pretty well.  The cold weather doesn't help because all I want to do is snuggle up in bed and do nothing.  But I've been trying to get more exercise and have start pregnancy yoga to help with strength and flexibility.